EFFECT OF AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AND SOME DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATIONS ON SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL TRAITS OF LAYING JAPANESE QUAIL

A total number of 360 mature Japanese quail, 3 months of age (240 females and 120 males), were used to investigate the effect of ambient temperature and dietary chromium (Cr), as chromium picolinat and/or acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on some physiological traits of laying Japanese quail. Chicks were assigned to 2 x 5 factorial design, with two levels of ambient temperature (22-24°C and 32-34°C) and five dietary treatments (control, 0.00%; 500 µg Cr / kg diet; 1000 µg Cr / kg diet; 0.05 % ASA and 0.1 % ASA). The experimental period lasted for two months. Obtained results showed that high ambient temperature significantly increased rectal temperature (P≤0.01) and respiration rate (P≤0.05 or 0.01) through the first and the second month of the experiment. Packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin value (Hb), and some plasma measurements (globulin, total lipids, T₃ and T₃/T₄ ratio) were significantly (P≤0.05 or 0.01) decreased under heat stress conditions. While, H/L and A/G ratios; plasma levels of total proteins, albumin, cholesterol, glucose, AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase)  were significantly (P≤0.01)  increased in heat stressed quail.
Rectal temperature and respiration rate are reduced through the first and the second month of the experiment due to the effect of dietary chromium and ASA, but this reduction was only significant (P≤0.05 or 0.01) for ASA. While, Hemoglobin (Hb) value increased significantly (P≤ 0.01)  due to the effect of dietary chromium. All dietary treatments significantly (P≤ 0.01) increased PCV and plasma levels of AST, ALT, T₃, T₄ and T₃/T₄ ratio and significantly (P≤ 0.01) decreased H/L ratio and cholesterol level. Quail group treated with 1000 µg Cr showed a significant increase (P≤ 0.01) in total proteins and globulin and a significant (P≤ 0.01) decrease in A/G ratio, as compared with  un-treated quails (control). Otherwise, glucose concentration significantly (P≤ 0.01) reduced only in group treated with 0.1% ASA.
It is concluded that high ambient temperature causes deleterious effects on physiological traits of Japanese quail. These effects could be alleviated by chromium supplementation at levels of 500 and 1000 µg/kg diet and by aspirin supplementation at levels of 0.05 and 0.1%.